What is a key objective of the NCQA?

The primary objective of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is to improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes. This organization focuses on establishing standards and measures to evaluate healthcare plans, providers, and systems. By setting these standards, NCQA promotes continuous improvement in the quality of care delivered to patients, ensuring that healthcare services meet established benchmarks for quality, effectiveness, and patient satisfaction.

Improving healthcare quality leads to better patient outcomes, which is critical for enhancing overall public health and ensuring that patients receive the best possible care. The NCQA also provides tools and resources for healthcare organizations to assess and improve their performance, contributing to a healthcare system that prioritizes quality care and positive results for patients.

The other options do not align with the primary objectives of the NCQA. While increasing hospital funding, regulating healthcare workforce size, and managing healthcare insurance claims are important aspects of the healthcare system, they are not the core focus of the NCQA's mission. Instead, NCQA is specifically dedicated to elevating healthcare quality, making option A the only appropriate answer in this context.